Road

The West Coast and Midwest are criterium central this weekend in the U.S., but the women’s elite national championship in Georgia take top billing.

The UCI issued a warning Thursday advising teams and riders that several blood samples are undergoing expert scrutiny in advance of the Tour de France to determine whether blood doping or other forms of manipulation have taken place.

The new Ridley FB features integrated braking, but you better move fast if you want one.

PARIS (AFP) — The owner of the HTC-Highroad team says that the team's trailblazing days in the professional peloton could come to a premature end unless a replacement title sponsor is found before the end of the Tour de France.

Colombian Lisban Quintero, winner of the 2010 Base Camp International criterium, his first on the National Racing Calendar, has tested positive for a banned substance.

Alberto Contador will take aim at the Spanish national title this weekend in both the road race and time trial events.

Evelyn Stevens went back-to-back Thursday in Augusta, Georgia, when she won the women’s U.S. time trial national championship. Stevens (HTC-Highroad) repeated her 2010 win over teammate Amber Neben on the new Augusta course during the second day of the elite, U23 and junior national championships. Olympic champion Kristin Armstrong (Peanut Butter & Co.-Twenty12) finished third.

Vacansoleil team for the Tour de France

• Romain Feillu (F)
• Borut Bozic (SLO)
• Marco Marcato (I)
• Thomas De Gendt (B)
• Bjorn Leukemans (B)
• Johnny Hoogerland (Nl)
• Wout Poels (Nl)
• Lieuwe Westra (Nl)
• Rob Ruijgh (Nl)

Omega-Pharma for the Tour de France

• Gilbert Philippe (B)
• Andre Greipel (G)
• Sebastian Lang (G)
• Jurgen Roelandts (B)
• Marcel Sieberg (G)
• Jurgen van den Broeck (B)
• Jurgen van de Walle (B)
• Jelle Vanendert (B)
• Frederik Willems (B)

Ryder Hesjedal will start his fourth career Tour de France under very different circumstances than the previous three editions following his break-out seventh place in 2010.

Team Sky for Tour de France

• Bradley Wiggins (GB)
• Geraint Thomas (GB)
• Ben Swift (GB)
• Juan Antonio Flecha (Sp)
• Rigoberto Urán (Col)
• Xabier Zandio (Sp)
• Simon Gerrans (Aus)
• Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor)
• Christian Knees (G)

BOULOGNE -SUR-MER, France (AFP) ─ French cycling legend Jeannie Longo easily beat a host of younger rivals to claim her fourth consecutive time trial title at the French national championships on Thursday.

A commuter bike that glows, why didn’t I think of that?

Please no wagering ...

Francisco Mancebo has signed a two-year contract extension with Realcyclist.com. On The Rivet Management announced Wedensday that the National Racing Calendar individual points leader has signed on with the rookie pro squad through 2013.

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"Christian Vande Velde came in and said to me, 'You can bet that worse things will happen during your career, but you have to let this go. If you don’t, I promise you more bad things will happen, it will eat you up inside.' ”

Saxo Bank-Sungard for Tour de France

• Alberto Contador (Sp)
• Jesus Hernandez (Sp)
• Dani Navarro (Sp)
• Benjamin Noval (Sp)
• Richie Porte (Aus)
• Chris Anker Sørensen (Dk)
• Nicki Sørensen (Dk)
• Matteo Tosatto (I)
• Brian Vandborg (Dk)

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Levi Leipheimer insists there will be no leadership battles within RadioShack during the upcoming Tour de France despite the team having as many as four riders capable of riding for GC.

Enve's new compact carbon handlebar.

RadioShack for the Tour de France:

• Jani Brajkovic (Slo)
• Chris Horner (USA)
• Markel Irizar (Sp)
• Andreas Klöden (G)
• Levi Leipheimer (USA)
• Dmitriy Muravyev (Kz)
• Sérgio Paulinho (P)
• Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr)
• Haimar Zubeldia (Sp)

The German public broadcasters ARD and ZDF are refusing to broadcast the race live on German TV for the second year in a row in protest of what they say is too much doping in the sport. German fans will be able to watch the race via the cable channel Eurosport, however, which will broadcast the 21-stage race live across all of Europe.

Police working together in Spain and Andorra have uncovered an alleged doping ring that involved up to 42 cyclists, 11 athletes, eight triathletes and even some kayakers and motorcycle drivers. Authorities identified most of the alleged clients as professional athletes.

Maurico Soler's life is no longer in danger; that's according to Movistar team doctors attending the injured Colombian, who remains in a hospital following his horrific crash last week at the Tour de Suisse.

Speaking to Spanish television (TVE1) during a break in a training camp in the French Alps, Contador said racing the Giro d'Italia before the Tour de France was hardly ideal preparation for the demands of the Tour.

The first week of this year's Tour features something for everyone

I’d say the main difference between Quebec and France is that when you’re driving along the Riviera, you don’t have to watch out for moose. That said, I didn’t get to see any moose this week. I was pretty sure I saw a bear win stage 6, but it turned out to be Svein Tuft.

Johan Van Summeren, who delivered Garmin-Cervélo's biggest win in team history with Paris-Roubaix in April, will stay with the team through the 2014 season.

PARIS (AFP) - Saxo Bank is to continue sponsoring the cycling team of Tour de France champion Alberto Contador next season, the Danish bank confirmed on Tuesday.

Danielson primed for Tour

Rabobank for Tour de France:

• Robert Gesink (Nl)
• Luis León Sánchez (Sp)
• Carlos Barredo (Sp)
• Juan Manuel Garate (Sp)
• Bauke Mollema (Nl)
• Laurens ten Dam (Nl)
• Lars Boom (Nl)
• Maarten Tjallingii (Nl)
• Grischa Niermann (G)

Women

• 1. Amber Neben, HTC - Highroad Women, with 536 points
• 2. Janel Holcomb, Colavita/forno D'asolo, with 374 points
• 3. Erinne Willock, Team Tibco/to The Top, with 355 points
• 4. Kristen Armstrong, Peanut Butter & Co-Twenty12with 315 points
• 5. Evelyn Stevens, HTC - Highroad Women, with 306 points

• 1. Francisco Mancebo, Realcyclist.com, with 575 points
• 2. Jacobe Keough, UnitedHealthcare, with 463 points
• 3. Jesse Anthony, Kelly Benefit Strategies - Optumhealt, with 344 points
• 4. Hilton Clarke, UnitedHealthcare, with 343 points
• 5. K Frank Pipp, Bissell Pro Cycling Team, with 330 points

More questions about crank length and why Andy Schleck dropped his chain, again.

Quick Step for the Tour de France:

• Tom Boonen (B)
• Sylvain Chavanel (F)
• Gerald Ciolek (G)
• Kevin De Weert (B)
• Dries Devenyns (B)
• Addy Engels (Nl)
• Jerome Pineau (F)
• Gert Steegmans (B)
• Niki Terpstra (Nl)

Nick Legan's Harvey Rapha Continental bike

Euskaltel-Euskadi for Tour de France:

• Samuel Sánchez (Sp)
• Egoi Martínez (Sp)
• Gorka Verdugo (Sp)
• Amets Txurruka (Sp)
• Rubén Pérez (Sp)
• Iván Velasco (Sp)
• Alan Pérez (Sp)
• Pablo Urtasun (Sp)
• Gorka Izagirre (Sp)

RadioShack has four of its Tour nine already confirmed, but team boss Johan Bruyneel is asking fans' help in rounding out the squad.

The stage race riders continued to climb the UCI WorldTour rankings after the Tour de Suisse, with overall winner Levi Leipheimer (RadioShack) and second placed Damiano Cunego (Lampre-ISD) both now in the top twenty.

Individuals

• 1. Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma-Lotto, with 356 points
• 2. Alberto Contador Velasco, Saxo Bank Sungard, with 349 points
• 3. Michele Scarponi, Lampre - Isd, with 348 points
• 4. Cadel Evans, BMC Racing Team, with 314 points
• 5. Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver, Katusha Team, with 288 points

The longest running National Racing Calendar event, the Fitchburg Longsjo Classic, will not run this year. Organizers cancelled the race Monday morning due to road closures resulting from a large fire in downtown Fitchburg, Massachusetts.

John Eustice was looking for a track racing spectacle in Harlem when he changed the format of the 38th Harlem Skyscraper Classic. He got it Sunday when German Leif Lapater (Transporation Alternatives-Rockstar) topped U.S. Olympian Bobby Lea (Pure Energy) and Anibal Borrajo (Jamis-Sutter Home) in the two event omnium at Marcus Garvey Park in New York City.

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Ivan Basso has placed the entire focus of his season on returning to the Tour de France podium, this time on the top step in Paris. To do so, Liquigas-Cannondale’s two-time podium finisher will of course have to contend with the man he says is the only rider in the sport capable of the Giro d’Italia-Tour de France double.

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Levi Leipheimer didn't start the 2011 Tour de Suisse expecting to win what many call Europe's "fourth grand tour."

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Check out CyclingTips's author page.

Check out CyclingTips's author page.

Check out CyclingTips's author page.

Shimano adds a second electronic group to its lineup.

Stage 3

• 1. Emma Johansson (Swe), Team Hitec Products Uck, 1:56:59
• 2. Judith Arndt (Ger), HTC-Highroad, s.t.
• 3. Malgorzta Jasinska (Pol), S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox, s.t.
• 4. Eva Lechner (Ita), s.t.
• 5. Rossella Callovi (Ita), SC Mcipollini Giambenini, s.t.

Final GC

• 1. Judith Arndt (Ger), HTC-Highroad, 6:13:23
• 2. Emma Johansson (Swe), Team Hitec Products Uck, at 0:19
• 3. Tatiana Guderzo (Ita), SC Mcipollini Giambenini, at 0:19
• 4. Emma Pooley (Gbr), Garmin-Cervélo, at 0:21
• 5. Rasa Leleivyte (Ltu), SC Mcipollini Giambenini, at 0:29

Casey B. Gibson captures the final stage of the 2011 Nature Valley Grand Prix.

BMC Racing Team for the Tour de France

• Brent Bookwalter (USA)
• Marcus Burghardt (G)
• Cadel Evans (Aus)
• George Hincapie (USA)
• Amaël Moinard (F)
• Steve Morabito (Swi)
• Ivan Santaromita (I)
• Manuel Quinziato (I)
• Michael Schär (Swi)

Men’s

• 1. Christian Helmig, Elbowz Racing, with 730 points
• 2. Luke Keough, Team Mountain Khakis, with 594 points
• 3. Juan Pablo Dotti, Aerocat Cycing Team, with 525 points
• 4. Euris Rafael Vidal, Foundation/crca, with 501 points
• 5. Neil Bezdek, Team Mountain Khakis, with 498 points

Women

• 1. Laura Van Gilder, Mellow Mushroom, with 715 points
• 2. Erica Allar, Rideclean Presented By Patentit.com, with 611 points
• 3. Kacey Manderfield, Pure Energy Cycling Team Proairhfa, with 573 points
• 4. Carrie Cash-Wootten, Mellow Mushroom/pedal The Cause, with 540 points
• 5. Samantha Schneider, Team Tibco/to The Top, with 437 points

Stillwater Criterium Men

• 1. Rory Sutherland, UnitedHealthcare, 1:09:50
• 2. Jesse Anthony, Kelly Benefit Strategies-OptumHealth, at 0:01
• 3. K Frank Pipp, Bissell, at 0:03
• 4. Bernard Van Ulden, Jelly Belly-Kenda, at 0:06
• 5. Luis Romero Amaran, Jamis Sutter Home, at 0:06

Final GC

• 1. Jesse Anthony, Kelly Benefit Strategies-OptumHealth, 9:56:32
• 2. Bernard Van Ulden, Jelly Belly-Kenda, at 0:17
• 3. Luis Romero Amaran, Jamis Sutter Home, at 0:45
• 4. Andres Diaz Corrales, Team Exergy, at 1:16
• 5. K Frank Pipp, Bissell, at 2:47

Women

• 1. Giorgia Bronzini, Colavita-Forno D'asolo-Cooking Light, 51:14
• 2. Evelyn Stevens, HTC-Highroad, at 0:01
• 3. Kristin Armstrong, Peanut Butter & Co. Twenty12, at 0:03
• 4. Erinne Willock, Team Tibco-To The Top, at 0:04
• 5. Jade Wilcoxson, NVGP Pro Ride, at 0:04

Final GC

• 1. Amber Neben, HTC-Highroad, 8.04:25
• 2. Erinne Willock, Team Tibco-To The Top, at 0:19
• 3. Kristin Armstrong, Peanut Butter & Co. Twenty12, at 0:49
• 4. Ally Stacher, HTC-Highroad, at 1:06
• 5. Evelyn Stevens, HTC-Highroad, at 1:10

Stage 6

• 1. Svein Tuft (Can), Spidertech-Planet Energy, 3:02:05
• 2. Andrew Pinfold (Can), UnitedHealthcare, at 0:18
• 3. Brett Tivers (Nzl), at 0:18
• 4. Michael James Northey (Nzl), Rabobank Continental Team, at 0:18
• 5. Arnaud Papillon (Can), at 0:18

Final GC

• 1. Francisco Mancebo Perez (Esp), Realcyclist.Com , 18:31:18
• 2. Bernardo Colex Tepoz (Mex), Amore & Vita-Mcdonald's, at 0:25
• 3. Svein Tuft (Can), Spidertech-Planet Energy, at 0:49
• 4. Alex Howes (USA), Chipotle Development Team, at 1:03
• 5. Benjamin King (Aus), Team Type 1, at 1:11

Giro della Toscana

• 1. Daniel Martin (Irl), Garmin-Cervélo, 4:54:00
• 2. Mauro Santambrogio (Ita), BMC Racing Team, s.t.
• 3. Miguel Angel Rubiano Chavez (Col), D'angelo & Antenucci-Nippo, s.t.
• 4. Emanuele Sella (Ita), Androni Giocattoli, s.t.
• 5. Alessandro Bertolini (Ita), Androni Giocattoli, s.t.

Rory Sutherland stamped his name on Chilkoot Hill for the second year in a row, winning the final stage of the Nature Valley Grand Prix Sunday. Yellow jersey Jesse Anthony (Kelly Benefit Strategies-OptumHealth) closed on a solo Sutherland (UnitedHealthcare) on the 20-percent finish climb to roll in for second and secure the final overall classification.

Garmin-Cervélo's Daniel Martin surged to victory in Sunday's Giro della Toscana in Italy in a strong bid to earn a spot for the Tour de France.

Stage 4

• 1. Leigh Howard (Aus), HTC-Highroad, 4:42:03
• 2. Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg), Saxobank-Sungard, s.t.
• 3. Tyler Farrar (Usa), Garmin-Cervelo, s.t.
• 4. Davide Appollonio (Ita), Team Sky, s.t.
• 5. Adam Blyth (Gbr), Omega Pharma-Lotto, s.t.

Final GC

• 1. Philippe Gilbert (Bel), Omega Pharma-Lotto, 19:02:16
• 2. Niki Terpstra (Ned), Quick Step, at 0:03
• 3. Ramunas Navardauskas (Ltu), Garmin-Cervelo, at 0:15
• 4. Joost Van Leijen (Ned), Vacansoleil-DCM, at 0:36
• 5. David Tanner (Aus), Saxobank-Sungard, at 0:44

The Italian cycling federation is coming down on hard on ex-dopers and is banning any rider with any sort of doping penalty from competing in the Italian national championships next weekend in Sicily.

Philippe Gilbert wins the Ster ZLM Toer as Leigh Howard takes the finale.

Stage 4

• 1. Luis Angel Mate Mardones (Esp), Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, 3:19:39
• 2. Simon Geschke (Ger), Skil-Shimano, s.t.
• 3. Steve Houanard (Fra), Ag2r La Mondiale, s.t.
• 4. Kévin Reza (Fra), Europcar, s.t.
• 5. Javier Ramirez Abeja (Esp), Andalucia Caja Granada, s.t.

Final GC

• 1. Vasili Kiryienka (Blr), Movistar, 19:12:36
• 2. Davide Rebellin (Ita), Miche-Silver Cross-Selle Italia, at 0:40
• 3. Peter Kennaugh (Gbr), Team Sky, at 0:43
• 4. José Herrada Lopez (Esp), Caja Rural, at 0:50
• 5. Sandy Casar (Fra), Française des Jeux, at 0:50

Spanish rider Luis Mate (Cofidis) won the final stage of the Route du Sud in France on Sunday while Vasily Kiryienka (Movistar) secured the overall title.

World road champion Giorgia Bronzini won her third stage at the Nature Valley Grand Prix Sunday, coming around Evelyn Stevens at the top of Chilkoot Hill for top prize in the Stillwater Criterium.

HTC-Highroad ended the three-day Giro di Trentino stage race on a high note as Judith Arndt fended off her rivals to claim the overall victory on Sunday.

Stage 9

• 1. Fabian Cancellara (SUI), Leopard-Trek , 41:01
• 2. Andreas Klöden (GER), Team RadioShack, at 0:09
• 3. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Team RadioShack, at 0:13
• 4. Nelson Oliveira (POR), Team RadioShack, at 0:25
• 5. Thomas Danielson (USA), Garmin-Cervelo, at 0:38

GC

• 1. Levi Leipheimer (United States), Team RadioShack , 31:45:02
• 2. Damiano Cunego (Italy), Lampre-Isd, at 0:04
• 3. Steven Kruijswijk (Netherlands), Rabobank Cycling Team, at 1:02
• 4. Jakob Fuglsang (Denmark), Leopard-Trek, at 1:10
• 5. Bauke Mollema (Netherlands), Rabobank Cycling Team, at 2:05

American Levi Leipheimer snatched overall victory from Damiano Cunego in the Tour of Switzerland Sunday to leave the Italian in second place by only four seconds.

Stage 5

• 1. Robert Bush (USA), Chipotle Development Team, a2:56:45
• 2. David Boily (Can), Spidertech-Planet Energy, s.t.
• 3. Bernard Sulzberger (Aus), V Australia, s.t.
• 4. Christian Meier (Can), UnitedHealthcare, s.t.
• 5. Jacob Rytlewski (USA), Kenda Pro Cycling-Spinergy, s.t.

GC

• 1. Francisco Mancebo Perez (Esp), Realcyclist.Com , 15:28:55
• 2. Bernardo Colex Tepoz (Mex), Amore & Vita-Mcdonald's, at 0:25
• 3. Alex Howes (USA), Chipotle Development Team, at 1:11
• 4. Benjamin King (Aus), Team Type 1, at 1:13
• 5. Phillip Gaimon (USA), Kenda Pro Cycling-Spinergy, at 1:15

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